Gauge



Jan. 4, 1938. D; D. .JACKSON ET AL GAUGE Filed Oct. 29. 1934 n IE...

Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAUGE David D. Jackson, Providence, R. I., and Erving W. Telit, South Attleboro, Mass.

Application October 29, 1934, Serial No. 750,552

8 Claims. (Cl. 11G- 125) The present invention relates to improvements mediate point between closed and open position in a gauge of the type disclosed in our applica-` to control the flow of fluid through the line. The tion Serial No. 713,744, led March 2, 1934, and movable valve member is operated by the rotatit will be evident that certain features of the able element, which is shown as a valve stem I3,

present invention are applicable to other types said stem being rotated in the usual manner to 5 of gauges. move the valve member.

An object of the invention is to provide a gauge Referring to Figure 2, the gauge assembly A of the type disclosed in our above-mentioned apis shown as comprising a cylindrical casing 2| plicaton which may be removably attached Withwhich may have its front face covered by a cir- 10 in the operating Wheel of a rotatable element, cular glass 22 retained in place by an annular 10 and which may be adjustablypositioned Within cover ring 23. All of the Working parts of the said wheel to regulate the gauge setting. gauge are housed within the casing 2|, and the Another object of the invention is to provide latter is removably and adjustably secured Witha gauge of this character, theV indicating pointers in an annular supporting housing 60, which housof which may be moved to adjust the same from ing is secured to the rotatable element I3 in a '15 outside of the gauge casing. manner which Will later appear.

A further object of the invention is to pro- The housing 60 is equipped exteriorly with a vide a gauge oi this character which may be replurality of lugs or projections 24, which in the movably and adjustably secured within the operparticular embodiment shown, constitute a hand 21 ating Wheel of a rotatable element, in such a Wheel which may be used to turn the rotatable 20 manner that the gauge will be protected by said element and move the movable valve member from.

Wheel. open to closed position, or vice Versa. While We A further object of the invention is to provide have shown the lugs or projections 24 of suitable a gauge comprising a casing which may be secured contour for manual operation, obviously it is 2;. within a retaining member of simple construcwithin the scope of the invention to provide such 25 tion, and attached by said member to a rotatprojections in the form of teeth or the like so able element. that the gauge assembly and rotatable element In the drawing, which is illustrative of two might be rotated by means of any suitable power forms of the invention, transmission element, such as a drive chain or a 3c Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gauge and drive gear. That is, the drive chain might en- 30 assembly, showing the same connected to the gage suitable teeth 24, or a drive gear having valve stem of a gate valve, teeth might engage teeth 24 mounted around the Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the gauge exterior of the supporting housing 6D. Furtherand assembly along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, more, the exterior surface of the supporting hous- Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View ing 60 might be made smooth in order that a 35 of the gauge assembly along the line 3-3 of transmission element such as a drive belt might Figure 1, impart rotation to the gauge assembly and thus Figure 4 is a top plan view of a modification of to the rotatable clement. the gauge assembly, The supporting member 60 is provided With a 40 Figure 5 is a side elevation of the form of gauge plurality of rearwardly extending converging 40 assembly shown in Figure 4, and arms 25, which arms join at their inner ends to Figure 6 is an end view of a rotatable drum or form a collar, saidcollar having an aperture 2G the like having a gauge assembly of the type shown therein which embraces a reduced extension 2l in Figures 4 and 5 attached thereto. of the rotatable element I3. The reduced ex- 47 In Figure l, the invention is shown applied to tension 2l of the rotatable element is shown as 45 a gate valve for fluid control, and in this figure, A the conventional reduced portion of a valve stem Y generally indicates the gauge and assembly which fashioned to receive an ordinary hand Wheel. To is a subject of this invention, it being shown as secure the valve assembly to the rotatable eleapplied to a gate valve or the like designated genment, a nut 28 is threaded onto the extension of 50 erally by the letter B. the reduced portion 21, said nut being. adapted to 50 The valve is of conventional construction of be tightened against the collar carried by the arms the type shown in our application Serial No. 25 after the gauge assemblyhas been preliminarily 713,744, led March 2, 1934, having a movable adjusted in position on the rotatable element. valve member adapted to be moved from closed to The glass retaining ring of the gauge casing is open position, or to be positioned at any intershown secured to said casing by means of a pair 55 grooves 58 which extend from the front of the sleeve inwardly to the channel 51.

In positioning the gauge casing within the supporting sleeve, it is merely necessary to align the screws 56 with the grooves'58,-after which the casing may be forced inwardly until the 'screws 55 l' are within the channel 51. Similarly, the gauge may be removed from the supporting housing by aligning the screws 55 with the inner ends-of the grooves 58, after which moved outwardly.

` `The inherent advantages of the removability of the gauge casing as a'unit will be apparent'. That is,`if it is 'desired to substitute a' differently calibrated gauge for the one in use, or to substitute a gauge in order to repair one which has been in use, it is merely necessary to remove the gauge the casing mayeasilybe from Within the housing and wheel', rather than undertaking the more laborious task of 'removing the entire assembly from the rotatable element.

The supporting housing G is apertured at 5| to receive a retaining bolt 62,-and a retaining nut 63 may be threaded to the outer end of bolt 52, The bolt 62 is threaded through the aperture 6| and its inner end abutsagainst the outer cylindrical surface of the gauge leasing to' retain the latter firmly in Aposition within the supporting housing. While only one retaining bolt 62 is disclosed as being suicient'to-retain the casingV in position Within thesupporting member, it is obviousthat any .number of such bolts may beprovidedas is.

deemedpractical.

YIt will be evident that although retaining bolt 62Ywill maintain the gauge casing in position when said bolt is tightened, 'when the bolt is loosened,

theY gauge` casing may be rotated within the Asupporting housing bysimply graspingthe casing and turning the same. The importance of this adjustment will be later apparent. Y

flhe construction of the interior working'parts of the gauge are generally similar to the construction of the same shown in our application Serial No. 713,744, led March 2, 1934,the gear train and indicating pointers being supported and operated from Ya shaft 3| which is xed to the gauge casingy when the .gauge is in use.` YNear the rear. of

the casing, a member 33, which is in the form ofY a triangularplate, is loosely mounted onshaft 3|. The base of the triangular platey 33 has integral therewith a weightedpo-rtion 35, so that when the casing and shaft 3|A are rotated, the plate33 will be retained in-y substantially theposition shown in Figure 6 by reason of its loose connec- K tion with the shaft 3|, and because of the provision of the counterpoise 375 at the base of the plate.

A driving pinion 36 is keyed to shaft 3l adjacent to and in front ,of plate 33,this drive'pinion A meshing with Va relatively large AYdriven gear 31 which is rotatable yon a pin projecting from the front ofthe plate 33. Integral with 4driven gear 31 and on the front face thereof is a relatively small drive gear 38. Drive gear 38 meshes with and serves to rotate a relatively large drivenpni011 43,. and saidrinion'is .@arriedbgy asleevefli.

Ashaft 3|, and is free upon the same.

't'he gauge casing is. rotated, the dial face will likewise be maintained in xed position during rotations of the gauge casing.

In order .to adjust the position of the indicating pointers 45 and 46 with respect to the calibrations onthe dial face 48, the adjusting mechanism disclosed in Figure 2 is provided. Shaft 3| has v-integral-therewith adjacent its rear end a collar 61, said collar being located in front of the rear .face ofthe vcasing andbehind the element 33. Rearwa'rdlyof collar-61, shaft 3| is reduced and smooth where it passes through an aperture 35 which is locat'edcentrally of the rear wall of the gauge casing. The shaft 3| protrudes rearwardly of the casing and is screw-threaded for the reception of a suitable washer 56 and an adjustment retainingV nut 55.

It will be'ap'parent from this construction that whenthe nut'6'5 is tightened, the gauge casing will beheld between the collar'51 and the washer 66, and thus the shaft 3 |'will be rigid with the gauge casing. ",When the device is in this condition, rotations of thesupporting sleeve 60 to revolve the rotatable element |3w'ill be imparted to the gauge casing, and thus to the shaft 3 I, andthe gears 3B, 31.38 and v43 will operate to move the small pointerltfand'the large pointer 46 will likewise move with shaft 3|, resulting in the indications described'in myafore-mentioned application Serial No. 713,744, led March 2, 1934.

-If it is desired to effect an adjustment of the indicating pointers Without disturbing the position of the gauge casing `Within the supporting housing, nut 35 may be loosened on the rearwardly protruding end of the shaft 3|, =after which said shaft :may be rotated independently of any movement of the rotatable element and gauge casing to adjust the position of .the p ointers with respect tothe casing and the dial face 48.

This adjustment is useful `for various purposes, such as to correct any errorsin the gauge resulting from longuse, or to set the indicating pointers upon zero fora new position of a movable member, such as a valve member. In order to facilitate the adjustment of the indicating pointers by rotation of shaft 3i, the rearwardly protruding end of said -shaft .may be suitably equipped to receive the end of abent screw driver or the like. Y y Y Adjustment ofthe-indicating pointers 45 and 4S may alsov be accomplished by loosening the retaining bolt 62 .and manually rotating the gauge-casing within,t-he1supporting'housing 68. Itfwillbe evident, that because the weight 35 will hold the-element 33 i-n a relatively fixed position, rotation of the ygauge-casing will effect a movement of the pointer 46 through the shaft 3|, and a' movement of .the pointer 45 through the shaft 3l and-thegear train to accomplish theadjustment, the dial face being maintained in relatively xed position by weighted plate 33.

itis vthus apparent vthat we have devised a gauge in which the position of the indicating pointers with respect to their dial may be adjusted by rotation of the shaft 3| independent of the gauge casing, or by rotation of the gauge casing itself. Obviously, a gauge may be equipped with either one of or both of these adjustments, as desired.

A further and more simple embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 4 and 5, wherein the gauge casing 2l is held as a unit between the legs 12 of a simple substantially U-shaped bracket 13. The gauge casing may be secured between the vlegs 12 by means of screws or the like 14, either rigidly or in such manner that the gauge may be moved with respect to the bracket, as shown by the dotted line position of the bracket in Figure 4. In this connection, the pivotal movement of the gauge with respect to the bracket will make more convenient the adjusting of the indicating pointers by means of the rearward extension of the shaft 3|, which carries the indicating pointers, said means being shown in Figure 2. The base of the bracket has at its center a suitable aperture 13' which is used in securing the gauge assembly to a rotatable element in any suitable manner.

This simple embodiment, as disclosed in Figures 4 and 5, may be mounted upon a light rotatable element, such as the spindle of a small valve, and the spindle may be rotated by simply grasping the casing 2| and revolving the same.

A further use of this embodiment is disclosed in Figure 6, in which gure the gauge assembly of Figures 4 and 5 is shown mounted eccentrically upon a rotatable drum 15.

It is obvious that the invention disclosed in the present specification has many other applications, and the manner of connecting the gauge assembly to other devices will be apparent from the above description of its connection to a valve or the like.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the drawing and described in the specication, and that the examples of the use of the device which have been given do not include all of the uses of which the device is capable; also, that the phraseology employed in the specication is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

We claim:-

l. In a device of the character described, a rotatable element, a gauge comprising as a complete unit a casing attached to said element and adapted to rotate therewith, an indicating device in said casing, means for maintaining said device in xed position with respect to the vertical dur` ing rotation of said rotatable element, a cooperating indicating member carried by said casing for indicating the rotations of said element, and means connecting said indicating member to said casing whereby said last named member may be moved with respect to said casing to adjust the position of the same Without dismantling said gauge or removing the same from said element.

2. In a gauge for indicating the rotations of an element, a casing secured to said element to rotate therewith, an indicating device in said casing, means for retaining said device in xed position, a cooperating indicating member carried by said casing for indicating the rotations of said element, and means for connecting said indicating member with said casing for cooperation with said device, said connecting means being constructed and arranged for disengagement from said casing to adjust said indicating member with respect to said device without dismantling said gauge or removing the same from said element.

3. In combination, a rotatable element, a supporting member attached to said element, said supporting member being adapted to receive power to rotate the same and to thereby rotate said element, a gauge comprising as a complete unit a casing, an indicating device in said casing, f

means for retaining said device in fixed position, and an indicating member in said casing for cooperation with said device and means for mounting said casing on said supporting member for rotation therewith to actuate said indicating member, said mounting means and said gauge being constructed and arranged for adjustment of said casing with respect to said supporting member to adjust said indicating member with respect to said device and for removal of said gauge as a unit from said supporting member without dismantling said gauge.

4. In combination, a rotatable element, a supporting sleeve attached to said element, said supporting sleeve being adapted to receive power to rotate said element, a gauge comprising as a complete unit a casing, an indicating device in said casing, means for retaining said device in xed position, and an indicating member in said casing for cooperation with said device, and means for mounting said casing in said sleeve for rotation therewith to actuate said indicating member, said mounting means and said gauge being constructed and arranged for adjustment of said casing in said sleeve to adjust said indicating member with respect to said device, and for removal of said gauge as a unit from said sleeve without dismantling said gauge.

5. In combination, a rotatable element, a supporting sleeve attached to said element, said sup-- porting sleeve being adapted Ato receive power to rotate said element, a gauge comprising as a complete unit 4a casing, an indicating device in said casing, means for retaining said device in xed position, and an indicating member in said casing for cooperation with said device, means for mounting said casing in said sleeve for rotation therewith to actuate said indicating member, said mounting means and said gauge being constructed and arranged for adjustment of said casing in said sleeve to adjust said indicating member with respect to said device, and for removal of said gauge as a unit from said sleeve without dismantling said gauge, and means for locking said casing in adjusted position in said sleeve.

6. In combination, a rotatable element, a supporting sleeve attached to said element, said sleeve being adapted to receive power to rotate said element, an annular channel on the inside of said sleeve, a gauge comprising as a complete unit a casing containing indicating means mounted in said sleeve, and a projection on said casing which extends into said channel to prevent removal of said casing from said sleeve but which permits said casing to be rotated in said sleeve to adjust said indicating means.

'7. In combination, a rotatable element, a supporting sleeve attached to said element, said sleeve being adapted to receive power to rotate said element, an annular channel on the inside of said sleeve, a gauge comprising as a complete unit a casing containing indicating means mounted in said sleeve, a projection on said casing which extends into said channel to prevent re- Cfu moval ofsaidrcasing from said sleeve but which permits said casing to be rotated insaid'sleeve to adjust said indicating means, andmeans for locking said casing in adjusted position `in said sleeve.

8. In combination, a rotatable element, a Asupporting member attached to fsaid element, :said supporting member being adapted to receive power tovrotate the same and to-thereby rotate said element, la lgauge comprising as a complete'unit a casing, :an indicating device in Vsaid casing, means for retaining said device in fixed position, a stub shaft carried by said casing Within the same, an indicating member for cooperation with said gaugelas aunit fromsaid supporting mem- 10 ber -without dismantling said gauge.

DAVID D. JACKSON. ERVING- W. TEFFT. 

